Activities
Infusing Understanding of Peace and Conflict in the Muslim World into the Curriculum
June 17-20, 2008
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USIP co-sponsored a three-day faculty development program at Madison Area Technical College from June 18-20, 2008, focusing on promoting strategies for teaching about the Muslim world. The program was supported by a Title VI grant from the Department of Education. Other sponsors included the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs, and the Wisconsin Technical College System Standing Committee on International Education. College and secondary school faculty from Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Virginia, New Mexico and other states participated. Qamar-ul Huda, John Voll from Georgetown University, Manoucher Khosrowshahi from Tyler Junior College, Safiya Ghori from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and Nader Ayish from American University and Fairfax County Public Schools presented. The program was coordinated by Geoff Bradshaw from Madison Area Technical College and David Smith.
University of Hawaii Students Visit USIP
May 29, 2008
Students from the University of Hawaii Maui Community College visited USIP on May 29, accompanied by faculty member Joshua Cooper. The students were participating in a program on human rights sponsored by the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Institute for Human Rights. Matt Levinger talked to the group about genocide prevention.
From left to right: Jeff Dykhuizen, psychology faculty; Jean Goodnow, president of Delta College; David Smith, USIP; and Connie Watson, psychology faculty.
Educating Michigan Communities About Child Soldiers
May 15-16, 2008
David Smith visited Delta College and the Saginaw, Michigan area May 15-16, 2008 to lecture about the international crisis in the use of child soldiers. He also met with faculty, students, and administrators at Delta College about efforts to develop a global peace and conflict program. He was hosted by faculty members Jeff Dykhuizen and Connie Watson. Dr. Dykhuizen attended "Global Peace and Security in Community Colleges and the Communities They Serve," USIP's annual seminar for community college faculty and administrators.
Seated front row, left to right: Arthur Harris, Nashua CC; Paul Demers, Rivier College; Marie Lemare, Amherst Street Elementary School.
Back row standing, left to right: Laurie Goodman, Community Representative for Congressman Paul Hodes; David Smith; Barbara Thorngren, Nashua CC; Lucille Jordan, President, Nashua CC; Chelsea Henderson, Nashua CC; Chris Dale, New England College
USIP Promotes Peacebuilding Education in New Hampshire
April 24-25, 2008
USIP visited Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire from April 24-25, 2008 to support the college's efforts at integrating the teaching of peace and conflict issues into its curriculum. Until recently known as New Hampshire Community Technical College, the college is considering programmatic changes that would result in it becoming a comprehensive community college. David Smith met with an array of college and community individuals including Lucille Jordan, president of the college; Arthur Harris, chair of liberal arts; Chris Dale, professor at New England College; and Laurie Goodman, community representative for Congressman Paul Hodes. Smith also met with faculty and students looking at various curriculum based approaches that might be considered. He was invited by Barbara Thorngren, a member of the education faculty at Nashua.
USIP Supports International Education and Peace Efforts in East Texas
April 22, 2008
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The Institute participated in Tyler Junior College's 18th Annual International Day on April 22, 2008 in Tyler, Texas. Focusing on world peace, the event featured 50 exhibits and displays including 43 country displays. The event attracted 3,500 visitors from the region including a number of secondary school groups. The event was organized by Manoucher Khosrowshahi, government instructor at Tyler and a participant in the 2006 USIP community college seminar. David Smith was the guest of honor. His remarks were recorded by CBS19 in Tyler.
Watch Smith's remarks
Nonviolence as a Tool for Change: Cumberland, Maryland and Allegany College of Maryland
April 3-4, 2008
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The Education and Training Center/Domestic Program participated in the "Nonviolence as a Tool for Change" symposium in Cumberland, Maryland, April 3-4, 2008. David Smith presented at Allegany College of Maryland on child soldiers and talked to faculty about peace and conflict curriculum strategies. He also spoke on the role of civil society in building global peace and ran a simulation with students at the college. The symposium was part of the program honoring the "Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." which was sponsored by a number of entities including Frostburg State University, the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Allegany County (MD) Board of Education, among other organizations.
"Youth and Conflict" - International Summit on Conflict Resolution Education
March 28-29, 2008
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The Education and Training Center/Domestic Program was a co-sponsor of the Second International Summit on Conflict Resolution Education March 28-29, 2008 at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. The host was the Global Issues Resource Center. Nearly 400 individuals and organizations from 30 countries attended the conference, making it one of the largest gatherings of those working in the field of conflict resolution education to date.
USIP sponsored Jimmie Briggs, author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War, who was the opening keynote speaker. David Smith also spoke about child soldiers and peace and conflict curriculum. Other presenters included Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye—known as "The Pastor and Imam"—who discussed their inspiring work on interfaith peacemaking in Nigeria, of which USIP is a major supporter; Dr. Siriporn Boonyananta, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Education in Thailand; Prosper Ndabishuriye, the general coordinator of Youth in Reconstruction of the World in Destruction in Burundi; and Dorothy Ndung'u, of NPI-Africa in Kenya.
Child Soldiers Lecture at Lakeland Community College
March 27, 2008
David Smith spoke at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio on March 27, 2008, on "The Wars Children Fight: Strategies to End the Use of Child Soldiers." He was invited by the college's Center for International Education and its director, Dr. Jennifer Forster.
Atlantic Hope 2008: Negotiating in a Humanitarian Crisis
March 7-9, 2008
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The Education and Training Center/Domestic participated in "Atlantic Hope 2008" at Indian River Community College in Ft. Pierce, Florida. David Smith trained 25 students from Northwest Missouri State University and Indian River Community College in negotiating in a humanitarian crisis, in this case, in the fictional country of Atlantica. After the training, students participated in a 72 hour "live" simulation of working in a conflict zone that experiences a natural disaster.
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USIP Participates in Global Youth Forum in Chicago
November 7-11, 2007
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People to People International, an international leader in promoting global awareness as a way of fostering world peace, asked USIP to develop a program on the complexities of international conflict and resolution for their annual Global Youth Forum. The Global Youth Forum attracts about 250 students each year, ages 13-18.
Dennis Ross Speaks at USIP Mediation Conference
September 27-28, 2007
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USIP recently brought together 25 conflict resolution professionals to participate in a conference focusing on mediation strategies. The program featured a simulation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a presentation on mediation by former Middle East envoy Dennis Ross.
